Over 65 migrants, refugees held in northwestern Turkey

EDİRNE

At least 67 undocumented migrants and refugees were held in northwestern Edirne province on Dec. 30, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing a security official. 

The migrants and refugees were from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Morocco, India and Bangladesh, trying to cross into Europe illegally, the agency reported, citing the official who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The detentions came during an inspection conducted by security units in Bosnakoy and Yenikadın districts of the province. 

The migrants and refugees were later taken to the provincial migration authority.

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

In recent years, hundreds of thousands of people have made the short but perilous journey across the Aegean to reach Northern and Western Europe.

Many refugees have died at sea when boats carrying them sank.

The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued thousands.

In March 2016, Turkey and the EU signed a deal aiming to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by enacting stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the living conditions of the three million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Since then, the number of refugees detained crossing the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece fell by 85 percent, according to the Turkish Coast Guard.

Statistics show that the total number of Syrian migrants registered with biometric IDs reached 3,208,131 as of Sept. 28.

According to statistics, Istanbul was the most popular destination, with 511,308 Syrians recorded there. The southeastern border province of Şanlıurfa came second with 445,584.